Judge Ritchie’s exact words on Jan. 9

So, since there’s been some confusion over her settlement record, here’s her exact words on Jan. 9 compared to her recent declaration in the court case, compared to her ballot statement…all three seem at least somewhat different…

In a recent declaration filed under penalty of perjury ( in response to competing candidate Matt Harris’ challenge to her ballot statement), the judge wrote, “I have handled 42 cases as a civil judge. I have settled 15 of them, which is more than one-third of the total.”

“Additionally, based on my experience and my interactions with other judges and with court staff, I believe settling over one-third of civil trials is better than any other judge.”

“In my opinion, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the settlement rate of cases coming before me is better than any other civil trial judge (my emphasis).”

First of all, Ritchie’s ballot statement actually brags her settlement rate is “higher than any other judge on the bench.’‘

Now, here’s what she said about two months earlier, on Jan. 9.

It was near the end of the 60-minute-plus interview and the conversation had turned to the negative way she is regarded by some in the legal community.

INTERVIEWER: I don’t understand why if as you say you’ve done a very competent job.

RITCHIE: “Yeah, I’ve really done a great job. I mean, I settle a third of my cases. The only judges who are higher than that are Judge (Brian) Walsh and Judge Jamie Jacobs-May. So, a third of the cases that are assigned for trial get a tailor-made resolution that I am able to assist them to attain.”

INTERVIEWER: “But, Judge, it doesn’t seem like you got any really big cases all these years. I mean, these are small cases even now. Right?”

RITCHIE: “I mean, my first year in civil, it’s my first year in civil.

INTERVIEWER: Right. But even during the five years in the criminal realm. Those cases matter, every case matters to everyone. And